In 2019, the most recent Ministry of Health statistics available, 503 people in New Zealand died from skin cancer. “That’s 151 more people than died on our roads in that same year.”
With summer well underway, it is time for everyone to double-down on sun smart practices.
“I hate to be a doomsayer as we head into our favourite season, but more than 90,000 Kiwis a year are diagnosed with skin cancer,” says Hawke’s Bay specialist dermatologist and surgeon Dr Juber Hafiji. “And in this country more than one person a day dies from it.”
In 2019, the most recent Ministry of Health statistics available, 503 people in New Zealand died from skin cancer. “That’s 151 more people than died on our roads in that same year.”
“Like road deaths, skin cancers are preventable. And, if you catch them early enough, even the most dangerous skin cancers can be successfully treated.”
Dr Hafiji said the statistic that might surprise many is that of those who died, many did so from skin cancers other than melanoma. “It is a common myth that the only dangerous skin cancer is melanoma, but that is not true.”
In 2019, there were 328 deaths from melanoma and 175 from other types of skin cancer. “While it is true that melanoma is the most aggressive and dangerous skin cancer, it is not true that other skin cancers are not a risk.”
New Zealand and Australia have the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, and New Zealand has the highest death rate from skin cancers.
“It is so unnecessary. I know people get a bit tired of hearing this message but that’s not going to stop me banging on about it. Wear sunscreen and reapply it often, wear clothing that protects you from the sun, put on a sunhat and sunglasses, and stay out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day. It’s that simple.
“Ideally I’d also like everyone to have a full body skin check every year as it’s very hard to check all of your skin yourself, especially on your scalp and in the folds of your skin. But at the very least, please have any changes in moles or spots checked by a specialist. It could save your life.”
